Tarps Through History

 

 

Tarps serve a protective function for just everything assisting most people in one way or another. Whether it is in the plant, on the job sites, over trucks, in the garage, or along the backyard there is something available for a solution. A longstanding history exists with these covers. For hundreds of years tarps have been benefiting humans.

To start with, the word tarp is short for tarpaulin, which is a word derived from “tar” and “palling”. Tar refers to the dark, oily, sticky substance and pall is a heavy, thick cloth. The first known uses of tarpaulins, or tarps, were in sailing the high seas. Canvas sheets (palls) were coated with tar and secured to cover the ship’s cargo providing a water resistant defense against salt spray, rain, or snow throughout the voyage.

As the New World and then the United States began to be explored, populated, defended, and expanded the use of the tarp migrated on to shore to help protect cargo, food, and people during travel in the manner of covering wagons. In the 1700’s tents began to be erected from tarp material. The water resistant properties of the surface provided a dry, wind resistant, and warm shelter for travelers and soldiers.

Other nicknames for tarpaulins include Basha (an Assamese word meaning “hut”) and Hoochie, Hootchie, Hooch, or Hootch (from the Japanese word Uchi or “house”).

Over the past century or so the tarp has progressed along with the industrial and technological advances in our world being utilized in countless applications in all areas of society becoming more than a $7 billion a year global industry. The tarp has evolved in the variety of materials that they are crafted from including cotton, rubber, vinyl, polyethylene, polyester, and nylon allowing a version to be suitable for any situation or condition.

A good portion of the modern versions of tarps are developed from polyethylene (PE) compounds to present light, durable, long lasting, and cost-effective poly tarp products. According to Global Info Research, 56 percent of all tarp sales in the United States are PE.

Other highly desired benefits of select tarp innovation include ultraviolet, water resistant, waterproof, mildew resistant, and fire retardant protection.  Most covers are lined with equally spaced reinforced holes (grommets) to properly tie down or suspend the covers.

Tarps are conveniently used in a multitude of tasks such as covering a truck’s freight during transit, protecting the floor and furniture from paint splatter, preventing leaks on a damaged roof, creating mesh shade in a designated area, keeping the baseball infield dry during a downpour, the efficient creation of a wall in an industrial area, shielding a stored vehicle from the elements, or sheltering snow and rain from a lumber pile. If a protective cover is needed for something history has proven there is a tarp application for the job.

Tarps Now History of Commitment

As a commercial manufacturer and distributor of custom and standard size tarps for more than 30 years, we know the value of convenience, service, quality, and price.  Being consumer focused, Tarps Now operates with the customer’s needs in mind.

You will immediately benefit from our commitment to be the very best source for all your tarps and covers. Customer satisfaction has always been and remains the highest priority in delivering a quality experience from ordering to delivery.

 

Let’s start our own history together today! Contact Tarps Now at (888) 800-1383, sales@TarpsNow.com, or fill out our convenient contact form for your custom or standard tarp needs.